Means for increasing the efficiency of gas burners



`urne 7, 1932. c. c. BERG 1,861,733

MEANS FOR INCREASING THF EFFTCIENCY OF GAS BURNERS Filed Feb. 20, 1928 2 SheetSSheet l June 7, 1932. C C BERG 1,861,733

MEANS FOR INCRASNG THF EFFICIENCY OF GAS BURNERS Filed Feb. 20. 1928 2 Sheets-Shree? nucnToz Patented June 7, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHABLIS C. BERG, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO MICHAEL E. MURRAY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN MEANS FOR INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY 0F GAS BURNERS Application led February 20, 1928. Serial No. 255,531.

This invention relates to an improved method for increasing the efficiency of gas burners, and to the apparatus used therein.

It has long been a desideratum of heating engineers and householders to provide a means of heating dwellings, factories and other buildings without the use of coal and its resulting labor, dirt and inconvenience' It has also long been recognized that illuminating gas would make a satisfactory fuel for heating furnaces, particularly of the hot water, steam and vapor types, but the expense has been prohibitive for generaluse in factories and dwellings.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for utilizing the ordinary illuminating gas or natural gas for such purposes at a cost favorably comparable with the cost of heating by coal or liquid fuel.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a process for doing away with the usual Bunsen burner effect employing a mixture of air and illuminating gas, and wherein the ordinary illuminating gas is mixed with hydrogen and oxygen derived from the breaking up of steam into its constituent elements.

A further object of my invention is the arrangement of a simple and comparatively inexpensive apparatus for utilizing my improved process in the usual furnaces now in general use, particularly those for heating dwellings by hot water, steam or vapor systems.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of my invention and wherein similar reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views.

ln the drawings:

Figure l is a front elevation of a furnace equipped with my improved apparatus for carrying out my improved process.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof. Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view through the firebox of the furnace and through the gas burner therein.

Figure 4 is an enlarged plan view of the as burner and adjacent portions of the lireox, parts being broken away to disclose the interior arrangement thereof.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of improved apparatus for installation in ordinary furnaces, and

Figure 6 is a. detail sectional view through the outer. extremity of the gas inlet pipe and showing a modified arrangement of the nozzle for supplying superheated steam thereto.

Referring `now to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates a furnace of any desired type, and is intended to exemplify a. furnace such as is ordinarily utilized for heating dwellings, factories and other buildings. Preferably my apparatus and improved process is intended to be used with furnaces employing the hot water, steam or vapor s stems of heating, and the furnace herein i lustrated is one that is in quite general use for producing steam to heat buildings of various sizes.

The numeral 6 designates the usual grate and 7 a surrounding wall of lire clay or other heat resisting substance, together constitutiner an improved form of firebox, wherein may tbe utilized fuels of various sorts for heating a boiler located in the upper portion of the furnace 5.

In carrying out my improved process, I preferably introduce into the usual irebox a gas burner 8 directly above the rate 6 and with an inlet pipe 9 extending t rough the front wall of the furnace 5. Ordinary illuminating gas is furnished to the projecting extremity of the inlet pipe 9 through the usual gas feed pipe 10, a valve 11 being suitably arranged to control the flow of gas through such pipe. The burner is herein shown as of the star type having a central mixing chamber and a plurality of radial arms projecting therefrom, apertures for the emission of the combustible mixture being spaced along the top half of the mixing chamber and arms, substantially as shown. These constitute the substantially `horizontal portion of the gas burner, and in addition I haveprovided a substantially vertical portion comprisinga tube 8a extending to a relatively great heig t from and arranged substantially centrally of the mixing chamber, there being radially disposed openings in the tube 8a for directing jets of flame against an encircling coil presently to be described. In the usual type of gas burner it is customary to provide for the mixture of atmospheric air with the gas conducted through the feed pipe 10 to the burner, such air being usually introduced through suitable openings in the inlet pipe 9, and in some burners adjustment may be made of the area of such air intake openings to give the socalled Bunsen burner effect. In my improved apparatus, however, there are no air intake openings arranged in the inlet pipe 9, the forward extremity of the pipe 9 being substantially sealed by a cap 12 fitted over the end of the pipe, the only aperture in the cap being a central one for holding the nozzle 13 of my improved apparatus for breaking up water into its constituent elements and conducting the resultant gases into the combustion chamber of the burner 8.

Adjacent the gas feed pipe 10 is a water pipe 14 of lesser area than the gas feed pipe and conducting water through an inlet pipe 15 to a coil 16 of tubing or the like, formed of suitable heat resisting material and arranged directly above the burner 8 encircling the vertical tube 82l thereof. As herein shown, the inlet pipe 15 conducts the water to the uppermost coil, and the water must How through the coil downwardly into comparatively close proximity to the burner 8, whence it, in the form of steam, emerges through the outlet pipe 17 into the forward extremity of the nozzle 13, which as best illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 is arranged substantially centrally within the gas inlet pipe 9. It is to be understood that this arrangement of the coil 16 is merely for purposes of exemplification, and any suitable arrangement whereby water may be converted into steam and then super-heated before it reaches the nozzle 13 J may be employed, and that a suitable number of convolutions are to be utilized in the coil 13 to accomplish this result. The flow of water through the feed pipe 14 is regulated by means of a valve 18, and preferably I connect the operating arms of the water valve 18 and gas valve 11 for simultaneous swinging movements, as by means of the connecting link 19, provision being made for adjustment whereby each valve may swing through the requisite angle to deliver to the burner 8 a suitable quantity of gas or water. An adjustable member, such as the set screw 27. is preferably arranged to limit the swinging movements of the valve arms towards closing positions, so 3 that there will be a small supply of gas and water to the burner even when the thermostatic Control would call for a complete cessation of heat to the boiler.

I have also shown a means for automati- 3 cally controlling the positions of the valves 11 and 18 whereby the area to be heated may be maintained within suitable desired maximum and minimum temperatures, and variations in such temperatures will serve to increase or diminish the flow of gas and water. The illustrated embodiment shows a thermostate 2O of any suitable type mounted upon the upper portion of the furnace 5 and suitably arranged so that its movable element will be vertically moved in accordance with increases and decreases in temperature in the area being heated or in the boiler itself. Such vertical movements will be transmitted to a thrust element 21 engaging one arm of an operating lever 22, the other arm of which is connected, as by the link 23, with the operatin arms ofthe valves 11 and 18. The operating lever 22 is fulcrumed intermediate its ends on a pin 24 journaled in a pair of spaced upstanding ears 25, and the lever is provided with an adjustable balance weight 26 to enable a delicate counter-balancing of the arms of the lever whereby it will be rocked upon a relatively slight movement of the thrust element 21. A tube 28 extends from the gas feed pipe 10 above the valve 11 into proximity to the burner 8 for maintaining a pilot light adjacent the burner should the valve 11 be completely closed by movement of the operating lever 22. A valve 29 is preferably provided in the pilot tube 28 for completely closing the pilot tube when desired, as during the summer season.

My improved method, which may be practiced in conjunction with the above described apparatus, consists of simultaneously supplying water and gas to a burner 8, the gas being directly. supplied to the vburner and the water being first passed through a series of convolutious arranged to receive heat from the burner whereby the water will be first converted into steam, then super-heated, and finally delivered to a nozzle having a restricted aperture at its delivery' end for projecting the super-heated steam into the central chamber of the burner. This preheating of the moisture and passing it through the nozzle 13 results in a racking of the water into its constituent elements, and of such elements, thc hydrogen is utilized for enrichment of the illuminating or natural gas supplied to the burner through the feed pipe 10, while the oxygen is utilized for supporting the combustion in the burner 8. Care must be employed not to supply an excess quantity of water to the coil 16, and I have provisionally taken care of this by utilizing tubing in the formation of the coil 16 of requisite size for the burner 8 with which it is to be utilized.

lVhen the water enters the uppermost coil through the inlet pipe 15 it is heated by the ljets emerging from the apertures in both the horizontal and vertical portions of the burner 8, and as the water flows downwardly toward the burner, 1t is converted into steam, and

meines then upon further movement such steam is super-heated. This super-heated steam passes into the nozzle 13, whence it is projected through the restricted aperture in the delivery end of the nozzle directly into the central portion of the burner 8. lVhen the burner 8 is first ignited, only the illuminating gas burns, and the water is restricted in its flow to the coil 16 until such time as the water then in the coil is sufficiently heated to enable its cracking into its constituent elements. By watching the action of the jets of the burner, it will be apparent when this takes place, for at first the jets in the apertures of the burner are relatively small and burn with a yellow flame and then as the constituents of the water are added to the illuminating gas, the jets extend higher and change to a blue iiame adjacent the burner with an orange colored upper portion. The valve 18 is then adjusted so that a requisite supply of water is fed to the coil 16 to maintain the desired iame at the jets, after which my improved process and apparatus may be utilized to automatically maintain heat in a desired area. Thus when the area is heated by the steam supplied from the furnace to adjacent the maximum temperature desired, the movement of the thermostat will rock the operating lever 22 to curtail the supply of gas and water to the burner 8, and then as the temerature lowers because of the reduced com- )ustion in the burner 8, the movable element 21 of the thermostat lowers and permits the weighted arm of the operating lever to again 4move the valves 11 and 18 to increase the flow of gas and water to the burner.

In Figure 6 I have shown a modified arrangement for delivering the super-heated steam from the coil 16 to the inlet pipe conducting the gas to the burner 8. On the outer extremity of the inlet pipe 9 is arranged a T-coupling 30 with the gas feed pipe 10 threaded into the opening at right angles to the opening of the coupling leading to the inlet pipe. Then the third opening of the coupling carries a nipple 31, the outer end of which is substantially sealed to exclude air by a cap 32 having a central aperture therein for the reception of a nozzle 33 through which super-heated steam from the coil 16 is supplied to the inlet pipe 9a through the pipe 17 a. 'Ihe delivery end of the nozzle 33 has a restricted aperture therein, and a needle valve 34C cooperates therewith to regulate the area of said aperture as desired, the needle valve being adjustable as by threading its stem in the plug 35 at the opposite end of the nozzle. Rotation of the stem of the needle valve may be effected by any suitable means, as the radial arm 36 and link 37.

The incoming steam will be thoroughly mixed with the gas in the inlet pipe 9 and will also exert an entraining effect to draw t5 the gas into the inlet pipe.

'While it will be apparent that the illustrated embodiment of my invention herein disclosed is well calculated to adequately'fullill the objects and advantages primarily stated, it is to be understood that the invention is susceptible to variation, modification and change within the spirit and scope of the subjoined claims.

Vhat I claim is:

1. In a device of the character described, a gas burner, an inlet pipe for feeding illuminating gas thereto, a nozzle havin one ex tremity extending into said inlet pipe, a tubular coil so arranged above said burner as to be subjected to direct radiant heat therefrom, and connected with the opposite extremity of said nozzle, and means for Supplying water to the coil.

2. In a device of the character described, a gas burner having a central mixing chamber, an inlet pipe for feeding illuminating gas to the mixing chamber, a nozzle having one extremity extending into said mixing chamber, a tubular coil arranged above said burner and subject to radiant heat emanating therefrom, and connected with the opposite extremity of said nozzle, and means for supplying water to the coil. A

3. In a device of the character described, a gas burner including a vertically arranged tubular portion, an inlet pipe for feeding illuminating gas thereto having one extremity secured in said burner, a closure member sealing the other extremity of the inlet pipe against admission of air thereto, a nozzle having one extremity extending through said closure member into said inlet pipe, a coil surrounding said tubular portion, and connected with the opposite extremity of said nozzle, and means for supplying water under 105 pressure to the upper portion of the coil, the burner being arranged to direct jets of flame d1rectly against the coil.

4. In a device of the character described,

a ffas burner including a vertically arranged 110 tubular portion, an inlet pipe for feeding illuminating gas thereto, having one extremity secured in said burner, a closure member sealing the other extremity of the inlet pipe against admission of air thereto, 115 a nozzle having one extremity extending into said burner, a coil surrounding said tubular portion, and connectedwith the opposite extremity of'said nozzle, and means for supplying water under pressure to the upper 120 portion of the coil, the burner being arranged to direct jets of flame directly against the coil from both the main body portion and the vertical tubular portion of the burner.

5. In a device of the character described, 125 a gas burner, an inlet pipe for feeding illuminating gas thereto having one extremity secured in said burner, a closure member sealing the other extremity of the inlet pipe against admission of air thereto, a valve for 13 controlling the flow. of gas through said pipe, a nozzle having one extremity extending through said closure member into said inlet pipe, a coil arranged above said burner and connected with the opposite extremity of said nozzle, a feed pipe for supplying Water under pressure to the coil, a valve for controlling the iow of Water through said feed pipe, and means for simultaneously operating said valves. l

6. In a device of the character described, a gas burner, an inlet pipe for feeding illuminating gas thereto having one extremity secured in said burner, a closure member sealing the other extremity of the inlet pipe against admission of air thereto, a valve for controlling the flow of gas through said pipe,

a nozzle having one extremity extending into said burner, a coil arranged above said burner and connected with the opposite extremity of said nozzle, a feed pipe for supplying Water under pressure to the coil, a valve for controlling the flow of Water through said feed pipe, connections between the valves for compelling simultaneous operation thereof, and thermostatic control means for effectin simultaneous operation of said valves.

I. In a device of the character described, a gas burner having substantially horizontal and vertical portions, an inlet pipe for supplying illuminating gas thereto having one extremity secured in said burner, a closure member sealing the other extremity of the inlet pipe against admission of air thereto, and means for also supplying super-heated steam to said inlet pipe including a coil arranged to be heated by jets from both the horizontal and vertical portions of the burner,a nozzle connected with one extremity of the coil and extending substantially central- 4ly of said inlet pipe into said burner, and a feed pipe for supplying Water under pressure to the opposite extremity of the coil.

8, In a device of the character described, a gas burner having substantially horizontal and vertical portions, an inlet pipe for supplying illuminating gas thereto, and means for also supplying super-heated steam to said inlet pipe including a coil arranged to be heated by. jets from both the horizontal and vertical portions of the burner, a nozzle connected with one extremity of the coil and extending into said inlet pipe, and a feed pipe for supplying Water under pressure to the opposite extremity of the coil, a valve arranged in said inlet pipe for controlling the flow of gas t'o the burner,a valve arranged in said feed pipe for controlling thc flow of Water to the coil,.and connections between said valves for compelling simultaneous opi eration thereof.

9. In a device of the character described, a gas burner having substantially horizontal and vertical portions, an inlet pipe for supplying illuminating gas thereto, and means for also supplying super-heated steam to said inlet pipe inc uding a coil arranged to be heated by jets from both the horizontal and vertical portions of the burner, a nozzle connected with one extremity of the coil and extending into said inlet pipe, and a feed pi e hand.

. CHARLES C. BERG. 

